SURGERY – TRAUMA (COMPLETE HIGH-YIELD NOTES)
Definition:
Trauma is injury due to external force such as road traffic accidents, falls, or assaults.
Priority is life-saving first.
PRIMARY SURVEY (ABCDE):
A – Airway (with C-spine protection):
- Check airway patency
- Look for obstruction
- Management: jaw thrust, intubation, cervical spine protection
B – Breathing:
- Assess chest movement, respiratory rate
- Life-threatening: tension pneumothorax
- Management: oxygen, chest tube
C – Circulation:
- Check pulse and blood pressure
- Control bleeding
- Management: IV fluids, stop bleeding
D – Disability:
- Assess GCS (Glasgow Coma Scale)
- Eye, verbal, motor response
E – Exposure:
- Fully examine patient
- Prevent hypothermia
SECONDARY SURVEY:
History (AMPLE):
- Allergies
- Medications
- Past history
- Last meal
- Events
